Quick hits: This isn't last year's Ravens team

As was the case when the Ravens and the Texans met in 2010, the Ravens held a lead after halftime. The score was tighter this time, with the Texans trailing by one score for much of the second half, but it never really felt like the game was in jeopardy. The Ravens maintained control on both sides of the football, and instead of sitting back, they stayed aggressive, grabbing a 29-14 win over the respectable Texans on Sunday.

Here are my quick-hit thoughts after the Ravens left M&T Bank Stadium with a win and a 4-1 record:

1. Another week, another reminder that this team is different than the one we watched a year ago. Last season, the Texans stormed back in the second half to take the Ravens to overtime. On Sunday, the Ravens did enough offensively to put points on the board and give the defense a breather, and the defense shut the Texans out after Jacoby Jones scored a 32-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. It wasn’t the prettiest of victories, but the Ravens beat a Texans team that should compete for a postseason spot.

2. The same applies to Joe Flacco. His play sputtered in the second quarter and he had two turnovers, but he made some huge throws down the stretch, particularly on the game-sealing touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. He also completed a pair of long passes down the field to Torrey Smith then Anquan Boldin. Flacco averaged more than nine yards per attempt and completed nearly 60 percent of his throws. Can he play better? Sure. But the Ravens won by two touchdowns without Flacco throwing a perfect game.

3. One area that Flacco and the rest of the Ravens offense must improve is the red-zone offense (and yes, I know I’m saying this after the Ravens were 2-for-4 in that department). It took the Ravens four tries from inside the 2-yard line to score on their opening drive, and their offense was unimaginative in their next two trips inside the 20. The Ravens should try to take advantage of the size and athleticism of Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta down near the goal line. Maybe give LaQuan Williams a look or two, as well.

4. That being said, it is games like these where we remember how good Billy Cundiff is. I am usually heading for the bathroom or checking on my fantasy teams as he is lining up a field goal; he’s pretty much automatic at this point. Cundiff was five-for-five on Sunday, and he kicked the heck out of the ball on kickoffs, too.

5. The Baltimore defense sacked quarterback Matt Schaub four times and tallied five quarterback hits, even if it felt like the Ravens had gone soft at times. Credit goes to the Texans offensive line for holding up against the Ravens whether they were rushing four or sending extra men on blitzes. But even though the Ravens didn’t force a turnover or score a defensive touchdown, they did enough to keep Schaub out of sync. The cornerbacks played well, too, particularly Cary Williams, who didn’t let Texans receivers get behind him.

6. One of the many highlights of my job is getting to cover Ray Rice, who somehow makes routine two-yard gains exciting as he churns his legs and tries to twist out of tackles. The Ravens wisely made Rice the focus of the offense on Sunday, and he rushed for 101 yards and had 161 total yards on 28 touches.

7. More praise for -- gasp! -- Cam Cameron: The Ravens’ final touchdown drive was called beautifully, with the Ravens using play-action passes to set up the run for Rice and Ricky Williams to seal the deal.

8. The Ravens held the Texans, who entered the game with one of the most productive rush attacks in the NFL, to 93 yards on 25 carries. Arian Foster and Ben Tate had a couple of gains for more than 10 yards, but the Ravens didn’t allow the big rush because they swarmed the backs and plugged up cutback lanes.

9. Torrey Smith hauled in another deep ball from Flacco, a 51-yarder, but I was equally impressed by what he did on the previous play. On 3rd and 12, Smith ran 15 or so yards down the field, then made a sharp left turn into the middle of the field, where he moved the chains with a 19-yard catch. Defenses already respect his deep speed, but if Smith adds more to his repertoire, he will be a tough guy to cover.